Electric foot warmer



March 5, 1929. w, w, HICKS 1,704,127

ELECTRIC FOOT WARMER Filed July 8, 1926 ZiMMQ PIE- 3 INVENTOR W/W/k'mllsy #I C/rs HIS ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM WESLEY HICKS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRIC FOOT WABMEB.

Application filed July 8,

This invention relates to an electrical heating device. and moreparticularly to one that is adapted to impart heat to the feet of aperson, when such a person is sitting or standing.

It is a matter of common observation that when the nether extremitiesare kept warm, there is a comfortable feeling even when the rest of thebody is cooler than normal. In order to take advantage of this, it hasbeen roposed to supply foot warmers, upon which the feet can rest whenthe user is sitting down; and which can be placed underneath the feetwhen the user is standing. Such a device is especially useful duringthese periods of the year when continual artificial heating isinadvisable, while yet certain periods of the day may be otherwise toocool for comfort.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide a simple andinexpensive elect cal heater that is especially adapt d to the functionsoutlined.

It is another object of my invention p a heater that can withstand theordinary careless handling accorded. devices of character.

heater is preferably built in the form of a plate upon which the feet1,.211'1 P connections lead in at one edge plate. ihese connec ions forma convcn ransporting the handle i no preca'utio: e readily torn 0 orloosened. ingly another object of my invention to 1 ride a foot warmerwith rugged lead in connections that can be used to *ansport the devicewithout danger of the parts.

It is still another object of inve t on to provide a -foot warmer inwhich the neat is imparted the entire outer active surface by conductionfrom a relatively small heating element, whereby the cost 'he eloinentcan be maintained a low value.

My invention possesses many other 5 tag-es, and has other i made moreeasily apparent from consideration of one embodiment of my invention.For this purpose I have shown a form in the drawings accompanying andforming part of the present specification. 1 shall now proceed todescribe this form in detail, which ill ":strates the general principlesof my invention; but it is to be understood that this detaileddescription is not to be taken 1928. Serial 110 121,177.

in a limiting sense. since the scope of my invention is best defined bythe appended claim.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a sectional view of one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail section, illustrating the-manner in whichthe lead-in is constructed Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the device,on a somewhat reduced scale;

Fig. 4 is a detail, with a portion of the device removed, to disclosethe manner in which the apparatus is wired; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view, taken from plane 55' of Fig. 1.

The entire heater has a box-like, shallow casing 11, made from thin heatconducting material, such as brass or aluminum. The main surface of thiscasing forms its upper side, upon which feet are intended to rest. Athin l- ,ulating material I the inla er serves eflior, yet it does ofheat enient la, such as mi ner surface. ciently as an electrical insulnot interfere with e conducti ferably consists of is convoluted on Ch,held therenner.

bly placed direct s to be in proper respect to the From this so a Theouter layer 16 overlies the blocks 14, i5 and 1'1, and serves also toinsulate the heat from the bottom plate l8, serving as a cover. Thisplate is shown as of metal, fitting rather closely within casing 11, towhich if desired it can be soldered. However, I show a plurality offastening devices, such as fiat head bolts 19, which pass through thecasing 11 and thread into cover 18 to clamp the various elements in theeasthe heating unit therein, to permitthe cable to enter.

ing together. i The bolts 19 are spaced near the edge of casing 11, andextend beyond cover 18. On their extensions arefastened crown nuts 20which serve as feet for the entire war'nier/ These nuts are preferablymade from metal or bakelite, whereby they also serve eflicientlytoprevent material con- .duction of heat to the floor; and they also serveas feet for spaci-ng the device from the floor.

The manner in;which the connections are led, into the heating unit 13will now be described. For this purpose, I show a steel armored cable21, entering into the edge of the casing 11 and projecting therein for aconsiderable distance. The casing 11, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, has aslot 22Fcut "thermore,'the top of casing 11 is cut away in a curveto fitaround cable 21, as indicated at 23; and a similar groove 24: is cut incover 18. Thus the cable 21 is securely clamped between the two grooveswhen the bolts '19 I are; fastened down. The \entire assembly can be,readily transported by grasping cable 21 as a handle, which cable ispurposely led into," the center of one of the ed es of casing 11=so asto keep the assemb y balanced when suspended by cable 21, on an axisopening.

The wires 25 from cable 21 are led to a pair of posts, 26 and 27, inblock 16, projectpassing througlnthe cable ing into a recess 28 in thelower side of in-'- s lation 16. The post 26 can be directly connectedto one terminal of the heating unit 13. The other post 27 however isshown as connecting to a fuse link 28, the

curved seat, cooperating to clamp the cable.

tightly, whercby'it can be used as a handle for the device. In testimonywhereof I have hereunto set my hand.

' WILLIAM WESLEY HICKS.)

